Edexcel GCE

Physics
Unit no. 6731

June 2006

Mark Scheme (Results)

Physics
Edexcel GCE

6731
Mark scheme notes June 2006

Underlying principle

The mark scheme will clearly indicate the concept that is being rewarded, backed up by
examples. It is not a set of model answers.

For example:

(iii) Horizontal force of hinge on table top

66.3 (N) or 66 (N) and correct indication of direction [no ue] 9 1

[Some examples of direction: acting from right (to left) / to the left / West /
opposite direction to horizontal. May show direction by arrow. Do not
accept a minus sign in front of number as direction.]

This has a clear statement of the principle for awarding the mark, supported by some
examples illustrating acceptable boundaries.

1. Mark scheme format

1.1 You will not see ‘wtte’ (words to that effect). Alternative correct wording should
be credited in every answer unless the ms has specified specific words that must
be present. Such words will be indicated by underlining e.g. ‘resonance’
1.2 Bold lower case will be used for emphasis.
1.3 Round brackets ( ) indicate words that are not essential e.g. “(hence) distance is
increased”.
1.4 Square brackets [ ] indicate advice to examiners or examples e.g. [Do not accept
gravity] [ecf].

2. Unit error penalties

2.1 A separate mark is not usually given for a unit but a missing or incorrect unit will
normally cause the final calculation mark to be lost.
2.2 Incorrect use of case e.g. ‘Watt’ or ‘w’ will not be penalised.
2.3 There will be no unit penalty applied in ‘show that’ questions or in any other
question where the units to be used have been given.
2.4 The same missing or incorrect unit will not be penalised more than once within
one question but may be penalised again in another question.
2.5 Occasionally, it may be decided not to penalise a missing or incorrect unit e.g.
the candidate may be calculating the gradient of a graph, resulting in a unit that
is not one that should be known and is complex.
2.6 The mark scheme will indicate if no unit error penalty is to be applied by means
of [no ue].

3. Significant figures
3.1 Use of an inappropriate number of significant figures in the theory papers will
normally only be penalised in ‘show that’ questions where use of too few
significant figures has resulted in the candidate not demonstrating the validity of
the given answer.
3.2 Use of an inappropriate number of significant figures will normally be penalised in
the practical examinations or coursework.
3.3 Using g = 10 m s−2 will not be penalised.

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4. Calculations
4.1 Bald (i.e. no working shown) correct answers score full marks unless in a ‘show
that’ question.
4.2 If a ‘show that’ question is worth 2 marks then both marks will be available for a
reverse working; if it is worth 3 marks then only 2 will be available.
4.3 use of the formula means that the candidate demonstrates substitution of
physically correct values, although there may be conversion errors e.g. power of
10 error.
4.4 recall of the correct formula will be awarded when the formula is seen or implied
by substitution.
4.5 The mark scheme will show a correctly worked answer for illustration only.
4.6 Example of mark scheme for a calculation:

‘Show that’ calculation of weight

Use of L × W × H 9

Substitution into density equation with a volume and density 9

Correct answer [49.4 (N)] to at least 3 sig fig. [No ue] 9

[Allow 50.4(N) for answer if 10 N/kg used for g.]
[If 5040 g rounded to 5000 g or 5 kg, do not give 3rd mark; if conversion to
kg is omitted and then answer fudged, do not give 3rd mark] 3
[Bald answer scores 0, reverse calculation 2/3]

Example of answer:

80 cm × 50 cm × 1.8 cm = 7200 cm3

7200 cm3 × 0.70 g cm-3 = 5040 g

5040 × 10-3 kg × 9.81 N/kg

= 49.4 N

5. Quality of Written Communication

5.1 Indicated by QoWC in mark scheme, placed as first mark.
5.2 Usually it is part of a max mark.
5.3 In SHAP marks for this are allocated in coursework only but this does not negate
the need for candidates to express themselves clearly, using appropriate physics
terms. Likewise in the Edexcel A papers.

6. Graphs
6.1 A mark given for axes requires both axes to be labelled with quantities and units,
and drawn the correct way round.
6.2 Sometimes a separate mark will be given for units or for each axis if the units are
complex. This will be indicated on the mark scheme.
6.3 A mark given for choosing a scale requires that the chosen scale allows all points
to be plotted, spreads plotted points over more than half of each axis and is not
an awkward scale e.g. multiples of 3, 7 etc.
6.4 Points should be plotted to within 1 mm.
• Check the two points furthest from the best line. If both OK award mark.
• If either is 2 mm out do not award mark.
• If both are 1 mm out do not award mark.
• If either is 1 mm out then check another two and award mark if both of
these OK, otherwise no mark.
6.5 For a line mark there must be a thin continuous line which is the best-fit line for
the candidate’s results.

2
 6731 Unit Test PHY1

1.

Graph Physical quantity represented by

the gradient
(i) (Constant) velocity [Not speed. Not 3
velocity change.]
(ii) (Constant) acceleration 3
(iii) Force 3
3
(iv) Power 4

Ignore references to units eg velocity m s-1 or dimensions L T-1

3
2. (a)Complete statement of Newton’s Third Law of Motion

....exerts an equal force on (body) A 3

(but) in the opposite direction (to the force that A exerts on B) 3 2

[‘exerts an equal but opposite force on body A’ would get both
marks]

(b)Complete the table

3
1 mark for each of the three columns 999

[Accept from earth for up. Accept towards ground or towards earth
for down]

Earth Gravitational. [Not Up(wards) / 

‘gravity’. Not 5
gravitational field
strength]
Ground Down(wards)
/

4
3. (a)Time to fall

Use of s = ut + ½ at2 or use of 2 correct equations of motion 3

or use of mgh = ½ mv2 and other equation(s)
[allow g = 10 m s−2] 2

Answer to at least 2 sig fig [0.69 s. No ue] 3

Example
2.3 m = 0 + ½ 9.8 m s−2 t2
t = 0.68(5) s [0.67(8) if 10 m s−2 used]

[Reverse argument only accept if they have shown that height is

2.4 m]

(b)Time to rise

Select 2 correct equations 3

Substitute physically correct values [not u = 0 or a + value for g] 3
[allow g = 10 m s−2 throughout]
Answer: [ t = 0.38 s] 3 3

Example 1
0 = u2 + 2x – 9.81 m s−2 0.71 m
0 = 3.73 m s−1 + – 9.81 m s−2t
t = 0.38 s [0.376 s if 10 m s-2]

Example 2
0 = u + - 9.81 m s-2 t; u = 9.81t
0.71 m = 9.81t.t + ½ -9.81 m s-2 t2
t = 0.38 s
[Note. The following apparent solution will get 0/3. s = ut + ½ at2;
0.71 m = 0 + ½ 9.81 m s-2 t2; t = 0.38 s, unless the candidate makes it
clear they are considering the time of fall from the wicket.]

(c)Velocity u
3
d
Use of v =
t
[d must be 20 m, with any time value from the question eg 0.7 s]
9
Answer: [18.9 m s−1 or 18.2 m s−1 if 0.7 s + 0.4 s = 1.1 s is used. ecf 2
value for time obtained in (b).]

Example
20 m
v =
0.68 s + 0.38 s
= 18.86 m s-1 [18.18 m s-1 if 1.1 s used]

5
(d)Why horizontal velocity would not be constant
9 1
Friction/drag/air resistance/inelastic collision at bounce or impact/
transfer or loss of ke (to thermal and sound) at bounce or impact
(would continuously reduce the velocity/ kinetic energy).
[also allow ‘friction between ball and surface when it bounces (will
reduce velocity/kinetic energy)’].
[Any reference to gravitational force loses this mark. A specific force
must be mentioned, eg resistive forces is not enough.] 8

6
4. (a)Newton’s Second Law of Motion

(The) force (acting on a body) is proportional/equal to the rate of 3

change of momentum
and acts in the direction of the momentum change 3
[accept symbols if all correctly defined for the first of these marks] 2
[ignore any information that is given that is not contradictory]

b(i)Calculate the mass

Correct calculation for volume of air reaching tree per second 3

[Do not penalise unit error or omission of unit]
Correct value for mass of air to at least 3 sig fig [246 kg. No ue.] 3
[If 1.23 × 10 × 20 = 246 kg is seen give both marks. Any order for 2
the numbers]

Example

20 m s−1 × 10 m2 = 200 m3

1.23 kg m−3 × 200 m3 = 246 kg

b(ii)Calculate the momentum

9
Answer: [ (246 kg × 20 m s−1 =) 4920 kg m s−1. ]
[Accept (250 kg × 20 m s−1 =) 5000 kg m s−1. Accept 4900 kg m s-1.
Ecf value for mass. Ignore signs in front of values.]

b(iii)Magnitude of the force

Answer: [ F = 4920 N or 5000 N or 4900 N.] [ Ecf value from b(ii). 9
Ignore signs in front of values] 2
6

7
5 (a)Principle of moments

For equilibrium/balance 3
sum of clockwise moments = sum of anticlockwise moments or sum of 3
moments about a point is zero.
[Sum or equivalent eg total/net/resultant [Not all] must be seen at least 2
once]

b(i)Force T

Use of principle of moments [Allow one wrong distance] 3

Answer: [T = 1.25 N. Accept 1.3 N] 3 2

T × 80 cm = 1 N × 40 cm + 3 N × 20 cm
T = 1.25 N

b(ii)Force

Size: [(1 N + 3 M – 1.25 N =) 2.75 N. Ecf value of T] 9

Direction: [Up(wards) or same direction as T or arrow up, might be

3
shown on diagram]. 2

b(iii)Bar tilted
3
Force T stays the same
As all moments/distances are decreased in the same ratio. 3
2

b(iv)3 N moved

QoWC 3
(As distance increased) the moment of 3N (about pivot) increased or 3
(total) clockwise moment is increased.
The moment of T is increased or anticlockwise moment must increase(to 3
keep clockwise and anticlockwise moments equal).
Magnitude of T increases. 9
[Do not accept ↑ for increases] 4
[exclusively calculations 0/4] 12

8
6. (i)Work done

Use of work done = force × distance 3

Answer given to at least 3 sig fig. [2396 J, 2393 J if 9.8 m s-2 is used, 3 2
2442 J if g = 10 m s−2 is used. No ue.]

Work done = 110 kg × 9.81 m s-2 × 2.22 m

= 2395.6 J

(ii)Power exerted

work done
Use of power = or power = F × v 3
time

Answer: [799 W. 800 W if 2400 J is used and 814 W if 2442 J is used. 3

Ecf value from (i)] 2

2396 J
Power =
3s
= 798.6 W

(iii)Principle of Conservation of Energy

Either
Energy can neither be created nor destroyed 99
OR
Energy cannot be created/destroyed or total energy is not lost/gained 9

(merely) transformed from one form to another or in a closed/isolated 9

2
system.
[Simple statement ‘Energy is conserved’ gets no marks]
[Information that is not contradictory ignore. ∆Q = ∆U +∆ W, with
terms defined acceptable for 1st mark]

(iv)How principle applied to...

Lifting the bar: -

3
Chemical energy (in the body of the weightlifter) or work done (lifting
bar) = (gain in) g.p.e. (of bar)
[Reference to k.e. is acceptable]

The bar falling: - 3

Transfer from g.p.e. to k.e. 3
(and that) g.p.e. lost = k.e. gained 3

[‘g.p.e. converted to k.e.’ would get one mark]

[References to sound and thermal energy are OK, but gpe to sound or
thermal energy on its own gets no marks]

9
(v)Speed of bar on reaching the floor
Setting ½ mv2 = m g h or ½ mv2 = work done or 2400 J [ecf their value] 3
[Shown as formulae without substitution or as numbers substituted into
formulae]
Correct values substituted 3
[allow this mark if the 110 kg omitted – substitution gives v2 = 43.55(6)
m2 s−2 or 44.4 m2 s-2 if g = 10 m s−2 is used]
Answer: [6.6 m s−1. 6.7 m s−1 if g = 10 m s−2 is used.] 3

½ 110 kg x v2 = 110 kg × 9.81 m s−2 × 2.22 m or = 2400 J / 2396 J

v = 6.6 m s-1 [6.66 m s-1 if 10 m s-2 used]

OR
Selects v2 = u2 + 2as or selects 2 relevant equations 9
Correct substitution into equation 9
Answer [6.6 m s-1] 9 3

v 2 = 0 + 2 × 9.81 m s-2 × 2.22 m

v = 6.6 m s-1
12

10
7. (i)Plot a graph

Check any 2 points. [Award if these correctly plotted in appropriate 3

square]
Curve of best fit. 3 2

(ii)Half life

average time required 3

for the count rate / activity / intensity to reach half the original 3
value or time taken for half of the atoms / nuclei/nuclides to decay
[NOT mass / particles / atom / (radio)isotope / count / sample/ cells/
nuclide]

(iii)Use the graph

Value of half life [Allow answers in the range 3.1 – 3.3. Mark not 3
to be awarded if a straight lined graph was plotted]
Two or more sets of values used to find half life. [Could be shown
3
on graph] max 3
(ii &iii)

(iv)Similar to
eg (The programme) obeys an exponential law or once a cell has 3
‘decayed’, it is not available to decay later or (the ‘decay’ is) 1
random or it is impossible to predict which cell will ‘decay’ next.

(v)Different

eg (Far) fewer cells available than atoms (in a sample of radioactive 3

material) or it is a different ‘scenario’ eg. they are not atoms but
cells on a grid generated by computer. 1
7

11
8. (i)Isotopes

(Atoms with) same proton number / atomic number 9

[not same chemical properties]
Different numbers of neutrons or different nucleon / mass number 9
[not different physical properties / density] 2

(ii)Unstable isotope of lead

212
82 Pb
3 1

(iii)Table

All responses correct

999
5 responses correct/ 1 wrong 99
4 responses correct/ 2 wrong 9
Decay Change Change Type of decay
path of A of Z

−4/ −2/ α / helium nucleus

reduced by 4 reduced by 2

0 +1 β− / electron
No change / [β decay
none insufficient]
3
6
[ for change in z, 1 is not sufficient i.e. + is essential]

12